With the Compliments of 



DIARY 



KEPT AT THE 



SIEGE OF LOUISBURG 



March 15 — August 14, 1745 



BY 



THE REV. JOSEPH EMERSON 



OF PEPPERELL, MASS. 



S2EitJ) Hotcg anH an lEntroliuctton 

BY 

SAMUEL A. GREEN 



DIARY 

KEPT AT THE 

SIEGE OF LOUISBURG 

March 15 — August 14, 1745 

BY 

THE REV. JOSEPH EMERSON 

OF PEPPERELL, MASS. 



Miiil) Notes aiitJ an iutvotiuctian 

BY 

SAMUEL A, GREEN 



CAMBRIDGE: 

JOHN WILSON AND SON. 

HurtcvsttH iJrcss. 

1910 



^\^% 

1^^^^ 



From the 

Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 

FOR October, 1910. 



AU' 



OQ 



DIARY AT THE SIEGE OF 
LOUISBURG, 

MARCH 15— AUGUST 14, 1745. 



At a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical So- 
ciety held in Boston on Thursday, October 13, 1910, 
Dr. Samuel A. Green, in presenting a copy of a diary 
kept during the first siege of Louisburg, said : — 

Since the last meeting of the Society Miss Harriet Elizabeth 
Freeman of this city has given to the Historical Library a diary 
kept by Joseph Emerson, Jr., a naval chaplain in the expedi- 
tion against Louisburg in 1745. Mr. Emerson was a graduate 
of Harvard College in the Class of 1743, and nearly four years 
later, on February 25, 1746-47, was ordained as a minister over 
the Second Church of Christ in Groton, which previously had 
been set off as a precinct or parish; and afterward when it was 
incorporated as a district, it became known as Pepperrell. The 
ordination sermon was preached by his father, the Reverend 
Joseph Emerson, of Maiden, and subsequently was printed. 
He took for his text: "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in 
the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. ii. i. 

Miss Freeman, who gave the diary, is a granddaughter of 
the Honorable James Lewis, of Pepperell, a prominent member 
of the Middlesex bar, who died in Boston, on February 6, 
1845, at the age of sixty years. A long time ago I was told 
that there were other diaries kept by Mr. Emerson, which may 
be still in existence. 



4 

Some years ago I gave a copy of the ordination sermon to 
the Library, and the titlepage runs, line for Une, as follows: 

Advice of a Father to a Son engaging in 
the Work of the Evangelical Ministry: 



A 

SERMON 

Preach 'd at the Ordination 

of the Reverend 

Mr. Joseph Emerson, 

To the Work of the Ministry, and Pastoral 
Ofhce over the second Church of Christ 
in Groton, in the Province of the Massa- 
chuseWs-Bay. N. E. on Wednesday, Feb. 
25th. 1746, 7. 

By His Father. 
Pastor of the first Church of Christ in Maiden. 

I Chron. xxii. 11. Now, my Son, the Lord he with thee, 
and prosper thou, and build the House of the Lord 
thy God. Be strong and of good Courage. 

Boston: 

Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green in 

Queen-Street. 1747. 

Twenty years later the father died at Maiden, on July 13, 
1767, and then as a filial return for this act the son preached 
a sermon on his death. 

On April 12, 1753, the Act was signed by Governor Shirley, 
making the second or west parish of Groton a district, which 
was the next step toward its final and complete separation from 
the mother town. At this period of time the Crown authori- 
ties were jealous of the growth of the popular party in the 
House of Representatives, and for that reason they frowned 
on every attempt to increase the number of its members. This 
fact had some connection with the tendency, which began to 



crop out in Shirley's administration, to form districts instead 
of towns, thereby withholding their representation in the leg- 
islative body. At this time the west parish, now a district 
under political conditions somewhat changed, took the name 
of Pepperrell. It was so called after Sir William Pepperrell, 
who had successfully commanded the New England troops sent 
against Louisburg; and the name was suggested without doubt 
by Mr. Emerson, the diarist, who soon after his services as a 
chaplain in the navy was ordained as the first minister of the 
parish. At that time his associations with the commander 
were both fresh in his mind and pleasant in his memory. The 
hero of the capture of Louisburg always wrote his surname 
with a double "r"; and for many years the district and the 
town followed that way, and like him spelled the name with 
two "r"s, but gradually the town dropped one of these letters. 
It was near the beginning of|the nineteenth century that the 
present form of the word became general. 

Joseph Emerson was the eldest son of the Reverend Joseph 
and Mary (Moody) Emerson, of Maiden, where he was born on 
August 25, 1724. He married, on December 12, 1750, Abigail, 
only daughter of Dr. William and Abigail (Boutwell) Hay, of 
Reading; and they were blessed with six children, — of whom 
the eldest child was a daughter, and the others were sons, — 
as follows: Mary, born October 19, 1751; Wilham, born June, 
1753, died October 17, 1753; Joseph, born October 11, 1754, 
died 1782; Samuel Moody, born September 13, 1757; Ebenezer, 
born November 28, 1762, died before 1782; and Joseph Sewall, 
born June 25, 1764, married May 27, 1792, first, Mary Jones, 
and, secondly, Phebe Wright. 

Lilley Eaton, author of the History of Reading, in a note on 
page 91, makes a singular mistake when he records the birth 
of Samuel Moody as that of twins, named Samuel and Moody, 
and the birth of Joseph Sewall also as twins, named Joseph 
and Sewall. 

Mr. Emerson's war record began as a chaplain in the 
navy, where for five months in the spring and summer of 
1745 he served aboard the frigate "Mohneux" during the 
siege of Louisburg. 

For more than twenty-five years before the Revolution 
Joseph Emerson led the life of a country minister at Pepperell; 



and during this period he performed the many and various 
duties which belong to the clerical office. In this capacity he 
became generally known in the surrounding towns and exerted 
a wide influence in the neighborhood. Like other ministers he 
married young couples and gave them good advice as they 
started out on their new career. He baptized the children, 
and entered the house of mourning where by his words he 
gave consolation to the kindred and friends. On all occasions 
he was ready to offer advice to the applicants, and he took an 
active interest in public affairs. He attended town-meetings 
and opened the business with prayer and played a prominent 
part in the settlement of all local questions. He believed in the 
direct efficacy of prayer and made his daily life conform to its 
power. Such was Mr. Emerson, and such were other ministers 
of that period. 

Many years ago, when the question of abolishing compulsory 
prayers as a college exercise at Cambridge was under discus- 
sion before the Board of Harvard Overseers, naturally there 
was among the members a great diversity of opinion in regard 
to the proposed change. I remember well that on that occa- 
sion Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, then one of the Overseers, — 
who. by the way was a nephew of the diarist, — made use of 
this expression: "Prayer to the Creator is the sublimest atti- 
tude that the human mind can take," and the words sunk deep 
in my memory. The power of prayer is gauged to-day largely 
by its subjective influence and from its metaphysical aspect; 
and it is not supposed to be a direct interposition of the Lord 
in the affairs of mankind. But not so was it a hundred and 
fifty years ago in the belief of the country minister, who was 
then a kind of papal autocrat in the rural village on all ques- 
tions of religious belief. But whatever his peculiarities or 
idiosyncrasies were, we owe him today much for his personality 
and the pleasant influences he exerted in the various house- 
holds where a visit by him left lasting effects. He was the centre 
of culture in the community, and a word from him always 
hit the mark. He was generally a college-bred man, and it 
was largely through his advice and suggestion that the supply 
of students at Harvard and Yale was kept up; and further- 
more he was the one to fit them to pass examinations for 
entrance. Where there was no physician in town the minister 



acted also as the doctor, and I am not prepared to say that his 
services were not equally successful in a medical capacity. 

Joseph Emerson's father had a family of thirteen children, 
of whom Hannah, the eldest child, was born on December 3, 
1722. She married on November 7, 1744, the Reverend Daniel 
•Emerson, her father's cousin, who on April 20, 1743, was or- 
dained at Holhs, New Hampshire, then known as Dunstable 
West Parish, where he continued as pastor for more than fifty 
years. Mrs. Emerson, Daniel's wife, like her mother, gave 
birth to thirteen children. Those were the days of large fam- 
ilies, and men and women then did not believe in race-suicide. 
In early times the neighborhood of Hollis was called Nissitisset, 
an Indian word which in its apphcation was rather indefinite 
and had no fixed Hmits. Under date of Friday, August i, the 
diarist speaks of setting out from home for "Nisitisset," which 
place he reached on Saturday, the next day. In these entries he 
mentions several times his brother, a term which he uses prob- 
ably in the Scriptural sense, as Daniel was a brother-in-law. 

Soon after the formation of the Continental army at Cam- 
bridge in the spring of 1775, Mr. Emerson, the diarist, went 
there to visit some of his parishioners and other friends from 
neighboring towns — and he was widely known in Northern 
Middlesex County — who were serving in Colonel William 
Prescott's Regiment, then in the field. Colonel Prescott was a 
townsman and parishioner of Mr. Emerson, who during this 
visit to the camp took a severe cold which a few months later 
caused his death at Pepperell, on October 23, at the age of 
fifty-one years. Perhaps he died of tuberculosis, a disease of 
which he had never heard. He was the author of four printed 
sermons, of which the titles are given below. As Uterary per- 
formances they are above the average of similar productions of 
that period of time, and they reflect credit on the scholarship of 
the minister. Evidently he was a faithful servant of the Lord, 
and much beloved by the people in his charge. 

The Fear of God, an Antidote against the Fear ] of Man. ] — j 
A I Sermon | Preached at Pepperrell, | May 7, 1758. \ To ] Cap. 
Thomas Lawrence, | And | Part of his Company of Soldiers: | Be- 
fore their going out into public Service. | Published at the Desire 
of the Company: | To whom it is with Affection and Respect | 
Presented. | — ] By Joseph Emerson, A. M. | Pastor of the Church 



in Pepperrell. | — | [One line from Proverbs XXIX. 25; one line 
from same XXVIII. 14.] — 1| Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland, 
opposite the | Probate-Office, in Queen-Street. 1758. 

A I Thanksgiving | Sermon, | Preach'd at Pepperrell, [ January 
3d 1760. I A Day set apart by the Church and | Congregation 
there: | To commemorate the Goodness of God to | them the Year 
past: I Especially | In the Removal of Sickness, and the Return 
of so I many Soldiers from the Army. | — | By Joseph Emerson, 
A. M. I Pastor of the Church there. | — | [3 lines. from the Psalms.] 
I — II Boston: Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland, | in Queen-street, 
1760. [The allusion to "the Removal of Sickness" is to the epi- 
demic known as the Pepperell fever, which broke out in 1755 and 
raged for several years.] 

A I Thanksgiving-Sermon | Preach'd at Pepperrell, | July 24*''' 
1766. I A Day set apart by public Authority | As a Day of | 
Thanksgiving | On the Account of the Repeal | of the | Stamp-Act. 

I By Joseph Emerson, A. M. | Pastor of the Church there. | — | 
[Two lines from Psalms CXXIV. 7; one line from same LXXX. 18.] 

— II Boston: | Printed and Sold by Edes and Gill in Queen-Street, 
I 1766. 

An I Extract | from a late | Sermon | On the Death of the 
Reverend | Mr. Joseph Emerson, | Pastor of the First Church in 
Maiden, | Who Died very suddenly | On Monday Evening July 
13th, 1767. I In the 68th Year of his Age. | Delivered at Maiden, 

I By Joseph Emerson, A. M. | Pastor of the Church at Pepperrell. 

I — I [Two lines from Zechariah I. 5; one line from Malachi I. 6.] 

— II Boston: j Printed by Edes & Gill, for Bulkeley Emerson, | Of 
Newbury-Port, | 1767. 

It is said by Mr. Butler, in his History of Groton (p. 317), 
that Mr. Emerson offered up before the troops the first prayer 
ever made in the American camp. 

Mr. Emerson's brother-in-law Daniel was a graduate of 
Harvard College in the Class of 1739; and he died at Hollis, on 
September 30, 1801, after a long pastorate at the advanced 
age of eighty-five years. Hollis and Pepperell are contiguous 
towns, lying on the border line of two States, one town in New 
Hampshire and the other in Massachusetts. 

The Reverend Joseph Emerson was buried in the old 
graveyard at Pepperell, where a suitable monument to his 
memory was erected by the town. It is in the shape of a 
tablet, and consists of a slate slab five and a half feet long. 



three feet two inches wide, and three inches thick, lying parallel 
with the ground and resting on short granite blocks. The 
tablet bears the following inscription: 






Erected 

by the Town of Pepperr^Il 

to the Memory 

of the Rev^ Joseph Emerson 

I': Paftor of the Church here 

who deceafed Oc- 29?, 1775, 

in the 52*? year of his Age, 

and 29*:** of his Miniflry: 

Stedfafl in the Faith 

once delivered to the Saints, 

Fixed and laborious 

in the caufe of Chrifl & precious fouls 

Exemplary 

in vifiting and fympathizing 

with his Flock, 

Diligent in improving his Talents; 

A kind Hufband, a tender Parent, 

A faithful Reprover, a conftant Friend, 

and a true Patriot. 

Having ceafed from his Labours 

his works follow him. 

Mr. Emerson's widow died at Pepperell, on March 2, 1807, 
at the advanced age of eighty-nine years; and she lies buried 
in the tomb erected by the town to the memory of her 
husband. 

A copy of the diary here follows, though a slight liberty has 
"been taken with the writer's use of capitals and punctuation: 



10 



Journal or the Louisburg Expedition. 

March. Frid 15 After waiting upon the Committee of War, I 
went on board the Molineux frigate, Cap: [Jonathan] Snelling; 
as chaplain for the expedition. 

Sat 16. We sat sail about twelve; in company with Commodore 
[Edward] Tyng in a twenty gun ship & a Rhoad Island snow in 
order for the coast of Cape Breton. 

Sab 17 I was very sea sick so I could not lead in the exercises of 
the day. We had a violent gale of wind. 

Mun 18 Lost sight of the commodore & snow by reason of a fog. 
Still very sick. Obliged to keep my bed. 

Tues 19 Got off Georgia's Banks, I began to recover something. 

Wen 20 Got sight of the commodore. Just got well enough to pray 
with the ship's company which consists of 138 men. 

Thu 21 This day we got so far as to coast of the harbour of Cape 
Breton, where we are ordered till the General comes down with 
the land forces. 

Frid 22 Read a sermon or two in Mr. [George] Whitefield's sermons 
preached in Scotland. 

Sat 23 Read two sermons in Mr. Whitefield but little opertunity 
for study on board. We live a rolling tumbling life. 

Sab 24 I preached all day in the cabbin from watch therefore for 
ye know neither the day nor hour when the Son of Man will 
come. 

Mun 25 I read three sermons of Mr. Whitefield's & sermon of Mr. 
[Thomas] Bradbury's. 

Tues 26 Read 3 sermons of Mr. Bradbury's, i sermon of Mr. 
Tidcombe. We this day made what sail we could for Canso 
in order to meet the rest of the fleet. 

Wen 27 We came into Canso harbour where we expected to meet 
the whole fleet but only we found two sloops. Cap: [David] Dono- 
hew commander of one of them who have been here two days, 
as they came down, they put in at Knowles Harbour where they 
took three Indians of the Cape Sable tribe. The stratigem he 
used in taking them was this, Cap: Donohew hoisted French 
colours in his own sloop ; & French & English under them in the 
other sloop so that the Indians tho't it to be a French Man with 
his prize, and came on board to trade with them, where they were 
immediately elap'd in irons. I went on board to see them & 
went on shore to see the ruins of Canso a place which consisted 



II 



of about 50 families, the French destroyed & burnt the houses 
about 9 months ago, a melancholy specticle! I wrote two letters. 
By what we can learn by these Indians the French intend as soon 
as possible to besiege Port Royal they having got 5 or 600 hun- 
dred Indians at their command, we cant learn that the French 
know anything of our coming on this expedition to Cape Breton. 

Thurs 28 We still lay in Canso harbour the weather being bad and 
unfit to put to sea. I wrote a letter or two, read some in [James] 
Keill's Anatomy. 

Frid 29 I in the forenoon went on shore again to view the desola- 
tions Afternoon we sat sail for to cruise of the harbour of Cape 
Breton I was again sea sick. 

Sat 30 I read some in Mr. [Thomas] Watson's Body of Divinity. 

Sab 31 I preached all day from he who being often reproved 
hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed & that without 
remedy. Read some in Watson's Body of Divinity. 

April. Mu I Read some in Watson's Body of Divinity. We gave 
chase all day to a vessel which at last put into Canso we then 
concluded her to be a friend, & the weather being very bad we 
could not get into the harbour we put off to sea. 

Tues 2 Read all day in Watson. We got just into the harbour of 
Canso but was becalmed just before night wind contrary we 
again put out to sea. We see this day 17 Sail of transports into 
the harbour. 

Wen 3 Contrary wind, we spoke with Cap. [Joseph] Smythrust 
[Smithers] & the Rhoad Island snow & ship. I read some in 
Watson. 

Thurs 4 We beat to windward all day but could not get into the 
harbour. Some hints of a mutiny in the Ship. 

Frid 5 We got in about 7 or 8 o'clock when we found the General 
with by far the greatest part of the fleet, a pleasant sight this! 
Before noon Cap. Fletcher who is in a brig, came in with a prize 
he took last Tuesday bound from Martinico to Cape Breton, a 
sloop loaded with rum & sugar. She informs of 4 more who came 
out with her or was to sail soon after. A counsel of war sat. 
We are ordered out immediately if the wind permit. 

Sat 6 The Wind contrary, had an opertunity to send letters home 
by Cap. Fletchers Prize who is to sail in a few days for Boston. 
I spent chief of the afternoon on board Cap. Tyng with my class- 
mate [Samuel] Fay er weather, & engaged him to preach for me 
tomorrow if we continue in the harbour. 
Sab 7 Cap. Tyng this morning buried two of his men who died of a 



12 

fever, and one he buried before we came in, he has above 20 more 
sick on board. The wind fair. We sat sail for our station at the 
west of the harbour of Cape Breton. We were so busy in 
the forenoon, & I was so sea sick afternoon we could have no 
exercise this day. We are in company with Commodore Tyng. 

Mun 8 I read some in Watson. Cap. Fletcher joyned us. 

Tues 9 Read some in Watson. Bad weather we have met since we 
have been down about two foul days to one fair. 

Wen ID I was very much out of order having taken a great cold. 
The other cruisers joyned us, we are now 6 in number 3 ships 
2 snows I brig. 

Thurs II I read some Watson &c. 

Frid 12 Still reading in Watson. A storm of snow very cold Weather. 

Sat 13 Read some Watson, some rain with thunder. 

Sab 14 I preached all day from as ye have therefore received Christ 
Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him. 

Mun 15 We were all day encamped with vast cakes of ice some are 
judged to be near 50 foot thick. 

Tues 16 Got out of the ice early in the morning, espied a sail gave 
chase presently it shot in thick with fog, presently providen- 
tially cleared of, we came up with the sail it proved a Martinico 
brig we took her she making no resistance we fired three guns 
at her. She was loaded with rum coffea &c. as near as we could 
reckon by envoice & the Captain's account, the ships cargo, with 
the Captains, & the ship, to be worth 25000 £. We found on 
board her 6 Englishmen one of them came with them from Mar- 
tinico, the other 5 they took out of a scoonner fishing off Cape 
Sable. We have now in. the Cabbin the Captain, a passenger 
bound from Martinico to Quebeck & a boy of about 1 2 of Age. 

Wen 1 7 We met with a schooner who informed us Cap : Donohew 
had got 8 Indians more, & that the General proposes to sail to- 
morrow if wind & weather permit. This day died Bartholomy 
Green. 
Thurs 18 As soon as it were light we retook a schooner which the 
brig took about a week ago which came out in consort with the 
brig we took the other day. As soon as we had secured the schoo- 
ner we gave chase to the Brig & followed her all day & just before 
we came up with her Cap: Donohew took her. No sooner had 
we come up but we heard the report of large Canon we followed 
the sound & presently found Cap: Tyng with the Rhoad Island 
ship & snow engaged with the store ship as we supposed who 



13 

mounts about 30 guns, we joyned the fight, she run we followed 
& fire upon her till the darkness of the night parted us. 

Frid 19 We are now in chase of her being 7 topsail vessels in company 
& two or three small vessels. We chased till noon then the Com- 
modore ordered us with two other vessels to go & lay ofif the 
mouth of the harbour to prevent his geting in. 

Sat 20 The ships returned to us with the melancholy news of the 
ships out going of them much that they were obliged to leave of 
chase. Cap: [John] Rouse got so near as to fire 115 shot bough 
chase at her and forced to leave her at last. We were so near as 
to hear guns from the fort of Cape Breton, saw the light house 
plain at night. This day died Gallop, after a short illness. 

Sab 21 We saw a sail gave chase came up about 11 o'clock found 
her to be a sloop who just before we came up retook a schooner 
which the brig took some time ago from Boston with stores for 
the army & wine &c for the General. We were so busy we could 
not have any preaching. 

Mun 22 I went on board the Commodore with Cap: Snelling & 
dined there the wind blowing very fresh great sea we narrowly 
escaped being drowning or the boats filUng at least. This day we 
could see the walls of Cape Briton and with a glass plainly dis- 
tinguish the houses & church. 

Tues 24 There came down to us this morning Commodore Warren 
with three Men of War. Cap : Fletcher took a schooner loaded 
with wood, the men got into their boat & escaped to shore. Cap: 
T[h]ompson drove a shore a sloop loaded with wood, the men ran 
into the woods. There was also a shallop taken in the afternoon. 

The number of the fleet. 





Names 


Men 


Gun 


Commander 


R 


ate 










C Peter Warren [Commodore] 




I 


Superbe 


415 


60 ■ 


i [Richard] Tedder- 
man 


Ship 


4 


2 


Eltham 


250 


40 


[Philip] Durell 


Ship 


5 


3 


Mermaid 


250 


40 


[James] Duglass 


Ship 


5 


4 


La[u]nceston 


250 


40 


[W. ] Calmady 


Ship 


5 


5 


Masachusetts 


150 


20 


Edward Tyng 


Sliip 


- 


6 


Molineux 


150 


20 


Jonathan Snelling 


Ship 


- 


7 


Fame 


150 


20 


[T[h]ompson] 


Ship 


- 


8 


Prince of Orange 


80 


14 


[Joseph] Smythrust 
[Smithers] 


Snow 


_ 


9 


Boston Pacquet 




12 


[ ] Fletcher 


Brig 





14 



lo Sherley 


150 


20 


[John] Rouse 


Snow 


- 


1 1 Caesar 


70 


14 


[George] Griffith 


Snow 


- 


12 Bien Aime 


140 


30 


[Clark] Gatham [Gay- 










ton] 


Ship 


6 


13 Princess Mary 


450 


60 


[ ] Edwards 


Ship 


4 


14 Vigilance 


450 


60 




Ship 


4 


15 Coumberland [Sun- 












derland] 


450 


60 




Ship 


4 


16 Canterbury 


450 


60 


[ Hore] 


Ship 


4 


17 Chester 


350 


SO 


[ Geary] 


Ship 


5 


18 Hector 


300 


40 


[ Cornwall] 


Sliip 


5 


19 Wager 


150 


20 




Ship 


7 



Thurs 25 We received advice from the General that one of our 
Privitier sloops was taken a few days ago by a 30 gun ship to the 
westward of Canso. We also hear the forces from Coniticut & 
Rhoad Island were ready to sail. 

Frid 26 The weather bad we made the land but once. 

Sat 27 Cleared off, we came & lay too at the eastward of Cape 
Briton nigh the light house. Saw three topsail vessels in the 
harbour. 

Sab 28 I preached all day from as the have received X Jesus 
the Lord. We heard that Cap. Tyng engaged two days ago 
a ship who French killed one of his men. Foggy night coming 
on they got away. 

Mun 29 We had the pleasure of meeting the General with the whole 
fleet the forces from Conniticutt & Rhoad Island all came down 
about 9 leagues from Cape Br[eton]. We made sail in the night 
to He off the harbour in the morning. 

Tues 30 We chased a ship all the forenoon & took her, found her 
loaded with provision for Cape Briton. I am very much out of 
order with a flux. 

May. Wen i The General with the forces landed yesterday at 
Cabaroose [Gabarus] Bay the French came down & opposed our 
landing. They fired upon them from the shipping killed their 
captain the rest presently fled. 

Thurs 2 Last night a detachment of sollidiers went & beset the 
Royal Battery & made the French forsake it having first stoped 
all their Cannon & breaking to pieces their Garages. 

Frid 3 The English got clear two or three of the Cannon in the 
grand battery. 



15 

Sat 4 We hear them fire all day from one Fort upon another. By 
a diserter we learn there is near two thousand men in the town. 
All the ships drew up in line of battel at the mouth of the har- 
bour as if we intended immediately to beset them by sea. 

Sab 5 I have kept my bed this is the 4th day with a fever & flux. 

Mun 6 A little better we lay off & on near enough to see them 
continually fighting. 

Tues 7 Of & on Louisbourg, heard very smart firing morning & 
night. 

Wen 8 We lost sight of land by fog. I am considerably better. 

Thurs 9 Still in fog heard the report of several guns. 

Frid 10 The fog cleared off but violent gales of wind & contrary 
we could not get up to our station we see fireing on shore. 

Sat II Still hard gales of wind all day and very cold snowy squalls. 
(Swallow) 

Sab 1 2 We met with Cap : Tyng who has been with a man of war 
and burnt a town to the eastward of Louisburg consisting of 48 
houses & a chh. 40 of the inhabitants went for Louisburg two or 
three days before, the rest ran away & left their houses to the 
mercy of the English who presently burnt them all. Cap : Tyng 
in a foggy night ran a board one of the men of war & lost his 
Boalsplit &c. 

Mun 13 We spoke with Cap: Gatham [Gayton] in a 20 gun ship 
man of war. He come from Boston a few days ago. 

Tues 14 Very great storm of wind & rain the worst we have had 
since our coming out. 

Wen 15 The storm cleared of a clear day but very cold contrary 
wind. We cannot get yet to Louisbourg. 

Thur 16 So little wind we could not get to the harbour. We hear 
by a snow come down with provisions that there is two French 
ships cruising off Canso picking up every one they can, the snow 
her self narrowly escaped. 

Frid 17 We got off the harbour, we heard from shore they have got 
little or no advantage against them. Since we were seperated, one 
snow escaped us & got in. They took the light house where were 
25 canon sunk. The Commodore has sent to Boston for two 
men of war, we hear have arrived one of 60, the other of 40 guns 
as also to Newfoundland for all the men of war there except one 
20 gun ship to protect the fishery. They have two or three 
fashion [fascine] batteries finished near the town & have battered 
the walls very much. 



i6 

Sat 1 8 We were very near the town and it appears an exceeding 
strong place by far the strongest in all America. They fire 
briskly on shore. 

Sab 19 The Rhoad Island privateer has took a brig: by whom we 
hear that there is expected 5 sail of men of war, i of 72, i of 50, 
I of 30, and two of 20 guns. We went into Cabaroose Bay where 
lay all'the transports, in order to wood & water. Yesterday came 
in Cap: Fletcher & sent his men a shoar to get water. The In- 
dians came down & barbarously killed ten men scalped three & 
run off: the English on shore have had several little scurmishes 
with French & Indians, 100 went out of the town & come round 
& engaged a company of English for a little time but they pres- 
ently put them to rout took one prisoner from whom they could 
get no inteligence of the state of the town. We have lost about 
30 men, many are sick in the Camp. They fire upon the town 
from five diferent places they have beat down the bridge as also 
the n. west gate. 

20 We hear that they have destroyed another town to the eastward 
of Louisbourg & burnt 80 houses. Heard that yesterday presently 
after we c'ame into the bay the Commodore gave chase to a large 
ship & came up with her & fired several broad sides. 

Tues 21 We came out of the Bay. We heard the joyful news of the 
■ large ship being taken. She mounts 64 guns, her lower tear 27 
pounders her upper 13; 500 on board. The Commodore killed 
60 French Men & wounded near as many more, but one EngUsh- 
men killed, several slightly wounded. They engaged 3 hours, 
struck at 10 o'clock at night She is a very rich prize, she has 
1000 barrels of powder & 40 canon, 42 poundes for Louisburg. 
The Captains plait in his cabin is worth 5000 £ starling. A 
few days ago she took two ships from Carolina. Very bad gov- 
ernment on shore in the Camp. (Warren Stormed Stormed 
Isl Battery) In the afternoon it was extreem foggy the Laun- 
ceston run on board us we expected no other than immediately 
to have foundered but we happily got off. At the same time 
Cap: Snelling was on board the Commodore, his barge at the 
Commodore's stern filled one or two of our men narrowly escaped 
being drowned. We hear that there expected hourly from 
London 12 sail of men of war & 4000 soldiers. 

Wen 22 There came & joyned us a 60 gun ship last from Boston. 

Thurs 23 In the evening the Commodore ordered all the boat to 
come on board man & armed, we sent 30 out of our ship. 



17 

Frid 24 Last night the Commodore sent several hundred saylors 
on shore to joyn the land forces in order to storm the 
Island Battery, but thro' the misconduct of the said oflce[r]s 
they never landed on the Island. Then joyned us a 40 gun 
ship last from Boston. 

25 26 Little or nothing done. 

27 28 Foggy weather we saw nor heard any news. 

Wen 29 We heard they have made 5 attempts to storm the Is: 
Battery the last time was on last Sabbath day night when 154 
men we hear, was killed drowned & taken, as also two days ago 
the Indians killed 9 of our men & buried them & then at the 
instigation of the French they dug them up & burnt them. 

Thur 30 I went with the Captain on board Cap : Tyng. From 
account from shore treachery is whispered thro' the whole camp. 

Frid 31 We hear that Indians & French have again besieged Anapo- 
lis Roy[al]. From all accounts from shore we learn the men are 
prodigiously discouraged. 

June. Sat i Foggy we could hear & see little or nothing. 

Sab 2 I preached from neither is there salvation in any other. We 
were ordered by the Commodore to chase to the eastward with 
other ships. 

Mun 3 We heard that a few days ago a woman deserted from the 
town. She says they are greatly distressed & that the women 
come daily to the Governor with their children in their arms to 
beseech him to deliver up the town who tell them tis as much 
as his life is worth. Also in the house where she was there came 
in a bullet & killed 3 gentlemen as they sat at dinner. We also 
hear that a bumb coming from the town fell near one of our 
soldiers & one of the pieces struck his cloathes, which greatly 
disp[l] eased him & he went and stood without the fachin battery 
& never ceased firing till he had killed five men of the walls. 

Tues 4 We saw a sail & gave chase: the Ppncess Mary a 60 gun 
ship out went us & came up first & retook a ship one of the ships 
the 60 gun ship took about 6 weeks ago. She has on board 950 
barrels of rice & some lignum vitee &c. The generous Commo- 
dore gave the English captain his ship. 

Wen 5 We received orders from the Commodore to proceed to 
Chabarouge Bay & take in 150 French Men & proceed to Boston 
the first opertunity. 



i8 

Thurs 6 We hear a few days ago Cap: Griffith took a sloop bound 
from Canada loaded flour & other provision, & also that Cap: 
[W.] Montigue who is now captain of the Mermaid took a brig 
in the fogg. 

Frid 7 I went with Cap: SnelHng to the camp, dined with the 
General who seems to be in pretty high spirits. There is in the 
army 2902 well men we hear they took captive at the Island 
Battery of our EngUsh, by the deserters we learn the town is 
in pretty miserable circumstances. 

Sat 8 Sab 9 Preparing to sail. We have got on board 143 French 
Men 8 who mess with the Captain. 

Mun 10 We sail out of Chabarouge Bay to the Commodore to whom 
has arrived a 50 gun ship from England who came out with two 
other ships of the line who we expect every minute. We sail with 
28 other vessels great & small for Boston under the convoy of 
Cap: Gay ton; a fair wind. 

T II W 12 Th 13 F 14 We had very good weather, what wind we 
had. Fair. Sea calm, httle foggs. 

15 16 We [had] good wind & fair weather. 

Mun 17 We came in the first of the fleet at Nantasket to an anchor 
at 8 o'clock at night. At 9 the captain took his boat & I with 
him for Boston loosing our way we rowed all night long, & after 
a very tedious time indeed for it thundered & lightned & rained 
excessive hard the greatest part of the night we arrived safe at 
Boston by day light. 

Tues 18 I went over to Maiden found the family well. 

Wen 19 I visited several of my friends & went to lecture. 

Thurs 20 I went to Boston where I heard that Cap: Snelling is 
ordered back to Cape Briton with powder & soldiers & to sail 
as soon as possible. 

Frid. 21 I went to Cambridge & heard the valedictory oration 
pronounced by Sir [Arnold] Well[e]s.^ Saw several of my friends. 
I went over to Mistick [Medford] heard my father preach 
a lecture. 

Sat 22 I went over to Boston in order to return on board Cap: 
Snelling found him not quite ready 

1 The title of "Sir" was given to graduates who were intending to take their 
second degree. At this period of time the names of graduates were arranged in 
the Triennial catalogue according to social rank; and Arnold Welles (H. C. 1745) 
appears at the head of his class. 



19 

Sab 23 Heard Mr. Webb ^ preach in the forenoon, afternoon I went 
down to Nantasket where our ship Ues with Doctor [WiUiam] 
Hay who is now going as our doctor at least for the passage down. 

Mun 24 Took in soldiers for Cape Briton & received order from 
the Governour for sailing. 

Tues 25 We sailed from Nantasket early in the morning & was 

forced to tow out the ship after we had some wind. Mr. 

Williams - of Springfield came on board us as Chaplain for the 

recruits,-'' he preached on board us in the afternoon or rather 

expounded the 10 Chap: of 2 Samll, We have on board no 

soldiers with Col: Williams.^ 
Wen 26 Contrary winds till afternoon then we had a fine wind. 
Thu 27 A charming wind fair & enough of it. We have one schooner 

& one sloop under convoy. 
Frid 28 Very Uttle wind all day. Mr. Williams expounded in the 

afternoon some part of i Chron: 5. 
Sat 29 We lost sight of the schooner & sloop in a thunder shower 

& squals of wind. 
Sab 30 I preached A:M: & Mr. Williams P:M: calm all Day. 
July. Mun i We made the land & as we suppose Canso. 
Tues 2 Abundance of fogg. Saw the land again which we suppose 

to be Sainte essprit 3 leagues to the westward of Louisbourg. 

Presently sat in very foggy. 
Wen 3 We saw the land & to our surprise found our selves 10 leagues 

to eastward of Louisbourg. We had a strong gale of wind & 

then extreem foggy. 
Thu 4 We meet with a schooner who came out from Boston two 

days after us, who has soldiers on board, from him & a charming 

day we find we have been very much out of the way & we are 

now 20 leagues to the westward of Louisbourg. We tack & 

changed our course. 
Frid 5 Fair wind chief of the day. We made the Island of Cape 

Breton. 

1 Rev. John Webb (H. C. 1708), ordained first minister of the New North 
Church, Boston, on October 20, 17 14; died on April 16, 1750. 

2 Rev. Stephen WilHams (H. C. 17 13), ordained minister of the Church in 
that part of Springfield known as Longmeadow, on October 17, 17 16; died on 
June 10, 1782. 

* A vote was passed by the General Court on June 19, " for enlisting 600 
recruits for the Army at Cape Breton." — Mass. Province Laws, xni. 473. 

* Col. William Williams (H. C. 1729); died at Pittsfield, April 5, 1784. 



20 

Sat 6 At 3 o'clock in the morning we met with the Chester a 50 gun 
ship who to our great & inexpressable joy told us that the city 
of Louisbourg resigned to the noble General Pepperrel on the 
17 of June. We came to an anchor in the harbour about 5 o'clock 
in the afternoon, I went a shore at the grand Battery which is an 
exceeding strong garrison, there is 32 ambizeers [embrasures] 
for cannon. 

Sab 7 I went to the city which is exceeding strong the walls are 
almost 30 feet hight & 20 thick, the houses & wall is shattered 
exceedingly above 6000 shot took place & did execution. I 
heard my grandfather [Samuel Moody, of York] preach in the 
forenoon in the King's Chapail, & Rector [Elisha] WilHams in 
the afternoon. There is in the town 148 ambizeers. 

N. B : when we entered the city there were just 154 killed & dead. 

Mun 8 I went to the Island Battery where are 30 ambizeers & 
almost as strong as nature & art can make it. It received great 
damage from the bums & shot from the fachion battery at the 
light house. I went on shore every day this week & viewed as 
much as I could, by the best account we can get we kill[ed] during 
the siege near 400 men, & multitudes of women & children died 
thro' the inconvenience of their lodging being obliged to lie under 
ground. The French say God almighty fought for us. 

Sab 14 I heard in the forenoon at the city Mr. [Stephen] Williams 
*who came down with us from Boston, P: M: Mr [Samuel] 
Fayerweather. 

Mun 15 We are preparing to sail for Boston as soon as possible. 

Wen 17 We sailed from Louisbourg about 10 o'clock in the morning 
with 150 French Men, women & children & soldiers. 

Thurs 18 Contrary wind all day we reached as far as White Head, 
at night we had a strong gale of wind & squals. 

Frid 19 Very windy & squaly & inconstant in the forenoon & after- 
noon very foggy, at night about 12 o'clock we ran foul of a sloop 
& did her some dammage she leaving some of her rigging behind 
her the weather so thick we had opertunity but just to ask her 
from whence she came? From Boston to Newfoundland. 

Sat 20 Foggy weather no signs of fair wind or weather till night 

then some hope. 
Sab 21 Still foul wind. I preached all day from the Lord hath done 

great things for whereof we are glad. 
Mun 22 Foul wind till just before night then very fair light brizes. 

We made the land suppose it to be EngUsh Harbour. 



21 

Tues 23 A very fair wind, P : M : very good brize. 

Wen 24 In forenoon very calm very foggy afternoon considerable 
wind but contrary. In the fogg we ran very near the Shoar 
before we could see it, it appeared not further than a cables 
length, we happily got off. 

Thurs 24 Had a pretty good gale foggy not very fair. We made 
Cape Negro about 10 leagues to the eastward of Cape Sable 
we met wdth a sloop who has been out 13 days from Louisbourg. 

Frid 25 We sounded in the morning and reckoned our selves to be 
abreast of Seal Island which is about 100 leagues to the eastward 
of Boston. A fair Wind all Day. 

Sat 26 A fair wind all day & very pleasant weather very light brizes 
afternoon we got but little a head then. We catched a great 
many maccarel. 

Sab 27 A charming wind. I preached all day from neither is 
there salvation in any other. About 9 o'clock at night we made 
the light house. 

Mun 28 We got in to an anchor about 2 o'clock in the morning a 
rainy day chief of the day. I went home to my father found the 
family my father is gone to Nisitisset [HoUis, N. H.]. 

Tues 29 Visited several of my friends. 

Wen 30 I went to Boston & fetched my things from on board the 
ship returned to Maiden & preached my fathers Lecture from 
the Lord hath done great things for us. 

Thurs 31 I went with some company down to Lynn beech. 

August. Frid i I sat out for Nisitisset met my father at Mr. 
Hobbies [Rev. William Hobby] at Reading, dined at Mr. Jona- 
than Eatons lodged at Mr. Bridgs [Rev. Ebenezer Bridge] at 
Chelmsford. 

Sat 2 I went forward on my journey dined at Coll: Tyngs, got to 
my brothers before night. 

Sab 3 My brother preached in the forenoon from Oh that there was 
such an heart in you & I. In the afternoon from the Lord hath 
done great things for us whereof we are glad. 

Mun 4 I visited some of the Neighbours. 

Tues 5 I rode about 7 miles with my brother & preached a lecture 
from Proverbs 29: i. 

Wen 6 Sat out very early for home came to Nashuaw River which 
was risen so I could not ford it but was obliged to go by Groton 



22 

[where there is a bridge], dined at Major Stoddard at Chelms- 
ford, got to my uncle Emersons at Reading in the evening & 
there lodged. 

Thurs 7 I visited a friend or two dined at Mr. Hobby's, got to 
Maiden. 

Frid 8 I went to Boston heard that our ship is discharged the 
service of the Government. 

Sab lo Mr. Cheever preach 'd A:M: upon original sin, P:M: upon 

justification. 
Wen 13 Lecture Mr. McGregory preached. 
Thurs 14 I went to Boston heard Mr. Clark preach the publick 

lecture. 



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